Franco, G. 2011. Scientific research and academic promotion in Occupational Medicine: what are the rules of the game?. MEDICINA DEL LAVORO 102 (2): 167-173

[Eugene Garfield]

Franco, G. 2011. Scientific research and academic promotion in Occupational 
Medicine: what are the rules of the game?. MEDICINA DEL LAVORO 102 (2): 
167-173.

Author Full Name(s): Franco, G.
Language: Italian
Document Type: Article

Author Keywords: Impact factor; occupational medicine; academics
KeyWords Plus: CORE JOURNALS; IMPACT FACTOR; H-INDEX; HEALTH; 
CITATIONS; SET

Abstract: "Scientific research and academic promotion in Occupational 
Medicine: what are the rules of the game?". Introduction: Recently, the 
National University Council (CUN) recognized the importance of bibliometric 
indicators in assessing scientific output and the Ministry of Education, 
University and Research established that the selection committees' decision 
must be guided by internationally recognized metrics including the impact factor 
(IF). Aim: To analyse methods and tools of metrics to assess scientific 
performance in Occupational Medicine by examining some critical aspects for 
entry-level positions and academic promotion in the Universities. Methods: By 
means of different databases (Web of Knowledge (R), Scopus (R), SCImago), 
the h-index was studied to assess the scientific output in the field of 
Occupational Medicine. The h-index was used as an index of both output and 
quality of overall output of researchers, disciplines, journals, and countries. 
Results: Italian scientific output in the Public, Environmental & Occupational 
Health subject category (h-index=62) was lower than almost the total of other 
medical disciplines and, at an international level, is ranked at 12(th) place 
(other disciplines ranked 3(rd) to 9(th)). Output was 32% compared to that of 
the USA (other disciplines ranged from 42% and 61%). However, it should be 
noted that most scientific papers of Occupational Medicine researchers are 
published mainly in journals of different disciplines (with a higher IF) rather than 
in journals of Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (with a lower IF). 
Conclusion: Assuming that selection committees' decisions will be guided by 
metrics and will respect the minimum standard proposed by CUN, Occupational 
Medicine researchers aiming at academic promotion will have good reason to 
ask themselves not only which journals are most useful but also which journals 
have the greatest impact. This fact could have profound implications for the 
future of the discipline.

Addresses: Univ Modena & Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento Med & Specialita Med, I-
41100 Modena, Italy

Reprint Address: Franco, G, Univ Modena & Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento Med & 
Specialita Med, Largo Pozzo 71, I-41100 Modena, Italy.
E-mail Address: franco at unimo.it
ISSN: 0025-7818
URL: 
http://www.mattioli1885.com/onlinejournals/index.php/lamedicinadellavoro/articl
e/view/772